The Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma lasted 146 minutes. It felt longer, but no one got their money’s worthJosé Mourinho, perhaps, is a pleasure better remembered than experienced. We chuckled at him wearing a wire, at him laying into Daniel Levy with the scorn that only he can muster, progressing through a semi-final with an xG of 0.03. Classic José, we said with a smile. Still fighting the bad fight. Still harrumphing and provoking and spoiling. And then you actually watch his Roma play – and, as it turned out, lose. And that is dreadful.For Roma, no doubt, the ends would have justified the means. Had they won, this would have been their greatest international success and that...
There is something magnificent about the Roma manager’s Europa Cup final date with Sevilla on WednesdayPerhaps it’s different if you live in Italy or if Serie A is the league you follow most closely. Perhaps, then, José Mourinho is still a cussed ball of fury, bearing ancient grudges, determined never to relinquish a slight, real or imagined, the Keyser Söze of the dugout, the Karla of the press conference, manipulating and plotting, radiating paranoia as he insists his club is the victim of a conspiracy by the referees, the media and the football authorities.But if not, there was something almost heartwarming about Roma’s 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final. He’s still doing...
The defender wasn’t the only calamitous performer in Europa League defeat, but a summer exit looks increasingly likely Manchester City (6-2 away), Liverpool (7-0 away) and now 3-0 at Sevilla: the Spanish side join the roll call of those this season to embarrass Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United seriously in a high-stakes game.José Luis Mendilibar’s team stand 13th in La Liga but were handed the initiative early on by the hapless Harry Maguire, whose annus horribilis may have reached a nadir in Andalucía. Eight minutes in and the captain’s darkest nightmare became true, unwanted real life. What unfolded seemed to begin in agonising slow-motion before speeding up to compound the pain. It was the kind of error that has made...
Erik ten Hag wants a new striker this summer and the French forward will need to do more to secure his place at the clubDid Manchester United’s late capitulation begin when Erik ten Hag took off Anthony Martial on 63 minutes? This may be a simplification, particularly as Bruno Fernandes also accompanied him, but until then those in red were coasting at 2-0 up with the forward providing a star turn.Twelve minutes in and United were given a glimmer of what they have missed from an enigmatic Frenchman bedevilled by injury: the sight of him dropping deep and bursting past defenders, a dazzling dribble splaying Sevilla and creating an opening for Antony. Continue reading...
Serbian keeper is excited for a potential showdown with David de Gea in Europa League and discusses being attacked on the pitchOne morning in early March, a bunch of flowers were delivered to Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium. Addressed to goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, they had come from supporters at PSV Eindhoven, a card among the red and white carnations wishing him well and apologising on behalf of fans. “Dear Mister Dmitrovic,” it began, before closing with best wishes for the rest of the competition, which takes him to Old Trafford on Thursday night. “It’s a nice touch,” he says; it will also be different this time, he’s sure.Different is the word, the first Dmitrovic uses. Asked to define this campaign,...